Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 27 October 1878. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council.Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation BFS
Electoral system The 135 members of the National Council were elected in 48 single- and multi-member constituencies using a three-round system. Candidates had to receive a majority in the first or second round to be elected; if it went to a third round, only a plurality was required. Voters could cast as many votes as there were seats in their constituency. There was one seat for every 20,000 citizens, with seats allocated to cantons in proportion to their population.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1886
Results
National Council Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 95.1% and lowest in Schwyz at 26.7%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 15Liberal Centre5Zürich 23Liberal Centre2Democratic Group1Johann Jakob KellerZürich 33Democratic Group3Zürich 43Democratic Group3Bern 55Radical Left5Bern 64Radical Left3Evangelical Right1Otto von BürenBern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 93Radical Left3Bern 105Radical Left3Evangelical Right2Lucerne 112Liberal Centre1Josef Martin KnüselRadical Left1Josef VonmattLucerne 121Catholic Right1Alois RäberLucerne 132Catholic Right2Lucerne 142Catholic Right2Uri 151Catholic Right1Josef ArnoldSchwyz 162Catholic Right2Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Nicolaus HermannNidwalden 181Catholic Right1Robert DurrerGlarus 192Radical Left1Niklaus TschudiLiberal Centre1Esajas ZweifelZug 201Catholic Right1Niklaus MoosFribourg 213Catholic Right3Fribourg 223Catholic Right3Solothurn 234Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Bernhard HammerBasel-Stadt 242Radical Left1Karl Burckhardt-IselinLiberal Centre1Johann Rudolf Geigy-MerianBasel-Landschaft 253Radical Left3Schaffhausen 262Democratic Group1Wilhelm JoosRadical Left1Robert GrieshaberAppenzell Ausserrhoden 272Radical Left1Johann FässlerLiberal Centre1Daniel HofstetterAppenzell Innerhoden 281Catholic Right1Alois BrogerSt. Gallen 294Liberal Centre2Catholic Right1Johann Gebhard LutzEvangelical Right1Carl von GonzenbachSt. Gallen 303Liberal Centre1Rudolf HiltyCatholic Right1Wilhelm GoodRadical Left1Johann Baptist GaudySt. Gallen 313Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1Johann Rudolf MoserGrisons 322Evangelical Right1Hermann J. von SprecherRadical Left1Johann Gaudenz von SalisGrisons 332Radical Left1Anton SteinhauserCatholic Right1Johann R. von ToggenburgGrisons 341Liberal Centre1Andreas Rudolf von PlantaAargau 353Liberal Centre2Radical Left1Arnold KünzliAargau 364Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Johann RohrAargau 373Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1Emil WeltiThurgau 385Democratic Group3Radical Left1Friedrich Heinrich HäberlinLiberal Centre1Johann MessmerTicino 393Catholic Right3Ticino 403Catholic Right3Vaud 414Liberal Centre2Radical Left2Vaud 424Radical Left4Vaud 433Radical Left3Valais 442Catholic Right2Valais 451Catholic Right1Ferdinand de MontheysValais 462Catholic Right2Neuchâtel 475Radical Left5Geneva 484Liberal Centre4Source: Gruner
Council of States
References